Baseball Should Never Put Up With This

Marge Schott must go.

There is no place in baseball, or business, or community leadership, or public life, for anyone with a mouth and a mind such as hers. Intolerance of racial bigotry is a must. Intolerance of racial ignorance is every bit as necessary, and this is precisely what Marge Schott is, ignorant.

Someone should sweep up after her mess, as with her dog.

A deposition taken last December put a question to the owner of the Cincinnati Reds, asking her if she had used the word “nigger” and had referred to the Martin Luther King Day holiday as “Nigger Day.” Schott replied that it was “possible.”

No, Marge. If you never could have said such a thing, the correct answer is: “No.”

She also was asked, after expressing confusion as to why a Jewish employee might have taken offense to a Nazi swastika armband being found at her home, whether she had told that employee: “Hitler might have had the right idea.” Schott’s reply in the deposition was: “I don’t really know.”

No, Marge. If you never could have said such a thing, the correct answer is: “No.”

Former employees alleged in depositions that Schott called outfielder Dave Parker a “dumb nigger” and made references to “sneaky . . . Jews.” Another party came forward this week to say that Schott, in the presence of other baseball owners, had said, among other things: “I would never hire another nigger. I’d rather have a trained monkey working for me.”

Vile, despicable words.

And if Marge Schott never uttered them, she had better step up right now and say so. Not say: “It’s possible.” Not say: “I don’t really know.” Deny it or resign. None of this “no comment” bull. You said it or you didn’t. Speak up.

Baseball wasted no time in ushering Al Campanis out the Dodgers’ front-office door for remarks that were offensive at worst and condescending at the least. Campanis worked for, and answered to, someone else; Schott owns the whole shebang. She answers only to baseball. Baseball is the one that must dismiss her.

How can Bill White, the National League president, who is black, and Bud Selig, the acting commissioner, who is Jewish, sit back and not act? The recent hiring of Tony Perez as manager of the Reds (with a one-year contract) does not absolve Schott of all sins or establish her as an equal-opportunity employer. Her team’s track record for minority hiring is a joke.

For a time there was a comic aspect to Marge Schott’s presence, this image of a dotty old aunt whose St. Bernard meant more to her than anything with two feet. As with the old movie “Rhubarb,” in which a baseball team was bequeathed to a cat, it might be interesting to know who is expected to inherit Schott’s team someday, and how cold his nose is.

There is nothing humorous about this woman, however. Eric Davis can tell you how cheap and cruel she could be. Lou Piniella finally had a bellyful and left town. Bob Quinn felt not so much like a general manager as like a whipping boy. Tim Belcher got a taste of her spoiled baloney in his first season pitching there.

Marge Schott, tightwad, is one thing. That is her business. Marge Schott, bigot, is quite another. That is baseball’s business. That is everybody’s business.

Her peers must act. The game was swift in dealing with Pete Rose’s moneymaking activities, and with George Steinbrenner when he acted unwisely in a matter involving the indirect persecution of one of his players. Baseball, therefore, must not drag its feet in sending Schott and her filthy mouth to the showers.

It isn’t enough to say: “Now, now, Marge.” None of that naughty-naughty stuff. She is an employer of human beings and a figure of authority. As owner of the Cincinnati Reds, she controls a major business enterprise in a town and country that would not tolerate her attitudes in any other field. Not in the 1990s, anyway. In the 1950s, maybe.

Hank Aaron, best known as the home run king, for many years has been railing against racial inequity and injustice in his trade. He, in particular, has been outspoken in this Schott affair, and has persisted in not letting it quietly die. Hank, keep swinging that hammer. Knock some sense into someone.

Marge Schott, at least, has accomplished something for sexual equality.

She has demonstrated that you don’t have to be a man to be a jerk.